HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Entrance
Nursing-Program Admission Prospective
Nursing Students Institution/Test-Center
Scheduled Advanced Practice Examination:
150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales
Difficulty Level: Advanced / Hard (Mixed with application and scenario-based items)
Target Audience: Prospective nursing students preparing for the HESI A2 entrance examination for
nursing-program admission
Reference Sources: Elsevier Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition (2025); HESI A2 Version 2
and Version 3 practice examinations (2025–2026); McGraw-Hill HESI A2 Review, 3rd Edition (2024);
Evolve Reach HESI A2 official test blueprints; past administered HESI A2 examination items and verified
test-bank rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Content Area Question Range Number of Items
I Reading Comprehension 1–20 20
II Vocabulary and General Knowledge 21–40 20
III Grammar and English Usage 41–60 20
IV Basic Mathematics Skills 61–80 20
V Biology 81–100 20
VI Chemistry 101–120 20
VII Anatomy and Physiology 121–140 20
,Section Content Area Question Range Number of Items
VIII Physics 141–150 10
TOTAL 1–150 150
SECTION I: READING COMPREHENSION (Questions 1–20)
🟢 1. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The nurse carefully measured the medication, double-checked the dosage against the physician's order,
and administered it to the patient. The patient's vital signs improved within 30 minutes."
What is the main idea of this passage?
A) The nurse measured medication
B) The nurse was careful and the patient improved
C) The patient's vital signs improved
D) Medication should be measured carefully
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage describes the nurse's careful actions (measuring and double-checking) and the
patient's subsequent improvement. The main idea synthesizes both elements: careful nursing care led
to patient improvement. Option A is a supporting detail, not the main idea. Option C is a result, not the
central concept. Option D is a general inference not stated in the passage.
🟢 2. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"Hypertension is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is often called the
'silent killer' because it typically has no symptoms. Regular blood pressure screening is essential for early
detection."
According to the passage, why is hypertension called the "silent killer"?
A) Because it causes sudden death
B) Because it has no symptoms
C) Because it affects millions of people
D) Because it is not detectable
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage explicitly states that hypertension is called the "silent killer" because it typically
has no symptoms. Option A is incorrect because the passage does not mention sudden death. Option C
is a true statement from the passage but does not explain the nickname. Option D is incorrect because
the passage indicates it is detectable through screening.
,🟢 3. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The doctor recommended lifestyle changes, including
diet modification and exercise. The patient was also prescribed metformin."
Which of the following are recommended treatments based on the passage? (Select all that apply)
A) Diet modification
B) Exercise
C) Metformin
D) Insulin
E) Surgery
🔴 Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The passage explicitly mentions diet modification (A), exercise (B), and metformin (C) as
recommended treatments. Insulin (D) and surgery (E) are not mentioned in the passage. This question
tests the ability to distinguish between stated information and outside knowledge.
🟢 4. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The nurse assessed the patient's pain level using a 0-10 pain scale. The patient rated their pain as 7 out
of 10. The nurse administered morphine 2 mg IV."
What did the nurse do immediately after assessing the pain?
A) Called the doctor
B) Administered morphine
C) Asked the patient to rate the pain
D) Documented the pain score
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that after assessing the pain (patient rated 7/10), the nurse administered
morphine 2 mg IV. Option A is not mentioned. Option C occurred before assessment was complete.
Option D is not mentioned in the passage.
🟢 5. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The medication should be taken with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset. It should be taken at
the same time each day for best results. Do not crush or chew the tablet."
What should the patient avoid doing with the tablet?
A) Taking it with food
B) Taking it at the same time each day
, C) Crushing or chewing it
D) Taking it with water
🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage explicitly states: "Do not crush or chew the tablet." Options A and B are
recommended actions. Option D is not addressed in the passage.
🟢 6. Which of the following is an example of a primary source for a research paper on the history of
vaccination?
A) A 2023 textbook chapter on the development of vaccines
B) A peer-reviewed journal article analyzing Edward Jenner's work
C) Edward Jenner's original 1796 notes on smallpox inoculation
D) A Wikipedia entry about the smallpox vaccine
🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary sources are original materials created at the time of the event. Jenner's original
notes are a primary source. The others are secondary sources that interpret or summarize primary
information.
🟢 7. Read the following sentence and answer the question.
"The patient's oxygen saturation dropped to 82%, so the nurse immediately applied supplemental
oxygen."
The word "so" in this sentence functions as which part of speech?
A) Preposition
B) Coordinating conjunction
C) Subordinating conjunction
D) Adverb
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "So" is a coordinating conjunction (along with for, and, nor, but, or, yet) that connects two
independent clauses expressing cause and effect. It is not a preposition (A), subordinating conjunction
(C), or adverb (D) in this context.
🟢 8. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"Hand hygiene is the single most effective method for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated
infections. Healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene before and after every patient contact,
after removing gloves, and after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces."
Nursing-Program Admission Prospective
Nursing Students Institution/Test-Center
Scheduled Advanced Practice Examination:
150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Correct
Answers and Detailed Rationales
Difficulty Level: Advanced / Hard (Mixed with application and scenario-based items)
Target Audience: Prospective nursing students preparing for the HESI A2 entrance examination for
nursing-program admission
Reference Sources: Elsevier Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition (2025); HESI A2 Version 2
and Version 3 practice examinations (2025–2026); McGraw-Hill HESI A2 Review, 3rd Edition (2024);
Evolve Reach HESI A2 official test blueprints; past administered HESI A2 examination items and verified
test-bank rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Content Area Question Range Number of Items
I Reading Comprehension 1–20 20
II Vocabulary and General Knowledge 21–40 20
III Grammar and English Usage 41–60 20
IV Basic Mathematics Skills 61–80 20
V Biology 81–100 20
VI Chemistry 101–120 20
VII Anatomy and Physiology 121–140 20
,Section Content Area Question Range Number of Items
VIII Physics 141–150 10
TOTAL 1–150 150
SECTION I: READING COMPREHENSION (Questions 1–20)
🟢 1. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The nurse carefully measured the medication, double-checked the dosage against the physician's order,
and administered it to the patient. The patient's vital signs improved within 30 minutes."
What is the main idea of this passage?
A) The nurse measured medication
B) The nurse was careful and the patient improved
C) The patient's vital signs improved
D) Medication should be measured carefully
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage describes the nurse's careful actions (measuring and double-checking) and the
patient's subsequent improvement. The main idea synthesizes both elements: careful nursing care led
to patient improvement. Option A is a supporting detail, not the main idea. Option C is a result, not the
central concept. Option D is a general inference not stated in the passage.
🟢 2. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"Hypertension is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is often called the
'silent killer' because it typically has no symptoms. Regular blood pressure screening is essential for early
detection."
According to the passage, why is hypertension called the "silent killer"?
A) Because it causes sudden death
B) Because it has no symptoms
C) Because it affects millions of people
D) Because it is not detectable
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage explicitly states that hypertension is called the "silent killer" because it typically
has no symptoms. Option A is incorrect because the passage does not mention sudden death. Option C
is a true statement from the passage but does not explain the nickname. Option D is incorrect because
the passage indicates it is detectable through screening.
,🟢 3. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The doctor recommended lifestyle changes, including
diet modification and exercise. The patient was also prescribed metformin."
Which of the following are recommended treatments based on the passage? (Select all that apply)
A) Diet modification
B) Exercise
C) Metformin
D) Insulin
E) Surgery
🔴 Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The passage explicitly mentions diet modification (A), exercise (B), and metformin (C) as
recommended treatments. Insulin (D) and surgery (E) are not mentioned in the passage. This question
tests the ability to distinguish between stated information and outside knowledge.
🟢 4. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The nurse assessed the patient's pain level using a 0-10 pain scale. The patient rated their pain as 7 out
of 10. The nurse administered morphine 2 mg IV."
What did the nurse do immediately after assessing the pain?
A) Called the doctor
B) Administered morphine
C) Asked the patient to rate the pain
D) Documented the pain score
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage states that after assessing the pain (patient rated 7/10), the nurse administered
morphine 2 mg IV. Option A is not mentioned. Option C occurred before assessment was complete.
Option D is not mentioned in the passage.
🟢 5. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The medication should be taken with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset. It should be taken at
the same time each day for best results. Do not crush or chew the tablet."
What should the patient avoid doing with the tablet?
A) Taking it with food
B) Taking it at the same time each day
, C) Crushing or chewing it
D) Taking it with water
🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage explicitly states: "Do not crush or chew the tablet." Options A and B are
recommended actions. Option D is not addressed in the passage.
🟢 6. Which of the following is an example of a primary source for a research paper on the history of
vaccination?
A) A 2023 textbook chapter on the development of vaccines
B) A peer-reviewed journal article analyzing Edward Jenner's work
C) Edward Jenner's original 1796 notes on smallpox inoculation
D) A Wikipedia entry about the smallpox vaccine
🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary sources are original materials created at the time of the event. Jenner's original
notes are a primary source. The others are secondary sources that interpret or summarize primary
information.
🟢 7. Read the following sentence and answer the question.
"The patient's oxygen saturation dropped to 82%, so the nurse immediately applied supplemental
oxygen."
The word "so" in this sentence functions as which part of speech?
A) Preposition
B) Coordinating conjunction
C) Subordinating conjunction
D) Adverb
🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "So" is a coordinating conjunction (along with for, and, nor, but, or, yet) that connects two
independent clauses expressing cause and effect. It is not a preposition (A), subordinating conjunction
(C), or adverb (D) in this context.
🟢 8. Read the following passage and answer the question.
"Hand hygiene is the single most effective method for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated
infections. Healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene before and after every patient contact,
after removing gloves, and after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces."
